Items Similar to [CHINESE EXPORT WATERCOLOURS ON PITH PAPER]. - Botanical Studies
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14
Unknown[CHINESE EXPORT WATERCOLOURS ON PITH PAPER]. - Botanical Studies 1890's
1890's
About the Item
[CHINESE EXPORT WATERCOLOURS ON PITH PAPER].
A Group of 10 Flowers and Butterflies.
mid to late nineteeenth century.
A fine group of Chinese export watercolours showing flowers and butterflies.
10 hand painted water-colours on pith paper, edged in turquoise silk ribbon and laid on paper. Framed and glazed, overall dimensions: 39.5cm by 27cm by 2cm.
Pith came into use for painting to satisfy the increasing demand for small, inexpensive and easily transported souvenirs, following the massive growth in the China Trade in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. Paintings in oils, on board and canvas were costly and difficult to carry home. Earlier and more prestigious export water-colours had often been on a larger scale and painted on fine Chinese paper or on paper imported from Europe. The albums of pith paintings (and later the little glass-fronted boxes) were inexpensive, light, easy to pack and gave the pictures some protection on the long voyage home. Because many were sold in albums and hence protected from the light, they retain their bright colours to this day.
Pith comes from the central column of spongy cellular tissue in the stem of a small tree called Tetrapanax Papyrifera, native to south-west China. It has had a variety of uses, some going back many centuries. At the imperial court both men and women wore coloured flowers made from pith in their hair. For use in painting, it is cut by hand with a knife into thin sheets from short lengths of the spongy tissue.
Because of the nature of pith and its cellular structure, the gouache used by the Chinese sat on the surface allowing fine detail and bright colour.
- Creation Year:1890's
- Dimensions:Height: 10.63 in (27 cm)Width: 15.56 in (39.5 cm)Depth: 0.79 in (2 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 1979
1stDibs seller since 2020
11 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 7 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- [CHINESE EXPORT WATERCOLOURS ON PITH PAPER]. - Botanical Studies.Located in London, GB[CHINESE EXPORT WATERCOLOURS ON PITH PAPER]. Group of 12 flowers and insects. Mid to late nineteenth century. A fine group of Chinese export...Category
Late 19th Century Naturalistic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsGouache, Rice Paper, Watercolor
- A Group of twelve CourtiersLocated in London, GB[CHINESE EXPORT WATERCOLOURS ON PITH PAPER]. Group of 12 Courtiers. Mid to late nineteenth century. 12 hand painted water-colours on pith paper, pale blue silk borders, a few minor...Category
Late 19th Century Other Art Style Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsGouache, Rice Paper, Watercolor
- Collection of Watercolour Designs for Silverware.Located in London, GB[ANON.] Collection of Watercolour Designs for Silverware. South Germany, [Late 19th century]. A series of 9 watercolours, each framed and glazed, ...Category
Late 19th Century Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Watercolor, Pencil
- Iris Kaempferi: No.36 YEDO-JIMANLocated in London, GBIris Kaempferi: No. 36 YEDO-JIMAN Tokyo, Yoshinoen-Garden, circa 1910. Hand-coloured woodblock print on handmade rice paper, numbered and captioned at top, outlined in ink. Framed ...Category
1910s Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsWood, Watercolor, Rice Paper
- Iris Kaempferi: No.10 AKASHI-NO-UELocated in London, GBIris Kaempferi: No. 10 AKASHI-NO-UE Tokyo, Yoshinoen-Garden, circa 1910. Hand-coloured woodblock print on handmade rice paper, numbered and captioned at top, outlined in ink. Fram...Category
1910s Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsRice Paper, Wood, Watercolor
- Iris Kaempferi: No. 91 CHO-HIYENLocated in London, GBIris Kaempferi: No. 91 CHO-HIYEN Tokyo, Yoshinoen-Garden, circa 1910. Hand-coloured woodblock print on handmade rice paper, numbered and captioned at top, outlined in ink. Framed in...Category
1910s Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsWatercolor, Rice Paper
You May Also Like
- Nude Painting, Watercolor on Rice paper, Yellow, Red by Indian Artist "In Stock"By Kartick Chandra PyneLocated in Kolkata, West BengalKartick Chandra Pyne - Untitled - 18 x 29 inches (unframed size) Watercolor on Rice paper Inclusive of shipment in roll form. Style : After graduating from the Government College of...Category
Early 2000s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsRice Paper, Watercolor
- Vendedora By Diego RiveraBy Diego RiveraLocated in New Orleans, LADiego Rivera 1886-1957 Mexican Vendedora (Vendor) Signed and dated (lower right) Watercolor on rice paper Diego Rivera stands among the most important artists of the 20th century...Category
20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsWatercolor, Rice Paper
- School of Athens after Raphael Vatican 18th Century Pen Ink Wash Drawing c. 1780By (after) Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)Located in Meinisberg, CHThe School of Athens after Raphael • 18th century Pen and Ink Wash Drawing • Later glazed wood frame, ca. 62 x 78.5 cm • Mounted behind a modern arch...Category
Late 18th Century Naturalistic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsHandmade Paper, Ink
- Quail Hawk StudyBy Jane RosenLocated in Carmel-by-the-sea, CABeautiful original by Jane Rosen with numerous birds floating in layers against a subtle background. Painted with Gouache and Sumi-e Japanese Ink on handmade paper. These studies w...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsGouache, Handmade Paper, Ink
- 'Seated Nude', Paris, Louvre, LACMA, Académie Chaumière, SFAA, California FauveBy Victor Di GesuLocated in Santa Cruz, CAEstate stamp, verso, for Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) and painted circa 1955. An elegant figural interior showing a young woman seated on a bed beside a table bearing a vase...Category
1950s Post-Impressionist Nude Paintings
MaterialsHandmade Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
- Expressionist Figurative water color painting- Young lady holding a catLocated in Beijing, CNArtist Biography Zhang Chunyang was born in 1975 in Changchun, Jilin. She earned her B.F.A at Jilin University of Arts in 1999, and studied at Central Acadamy of Fine Arts, Beijing ...Category
2010s Expressionist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsGouache, Watercolor, Handmade Paper
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Antique Paper
Study On Paper
Antique Paper Frames
Antique Paper Color
Mens Study
Botanical Drawing
Botanical Light
Antique Paper Flowers
Nineteenth Century Paintings
Art On Rice Paper
Chinese Hand Painted Paper
Antique Flowers And Butterflies
Antique Botanical Drawings
Column Drawing
Butterfly Drawing
Flower Drawing Large
Watercolour Paint Box
Painting On Rice Paper